RACHEL
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““Contemplate the unordinary, potentiate the extraordinary...””
My Story: The Climb from within.
As a wide eyed eight year old, I stepped on to the track at Ryde little Athletics Club in Sydney. I immediately became in love with sport, infatuated with the quest for optimal physical performance. An incredible passion was planted, never winning races but persistent and determined to make my opportunities flourish.
I discovered early that dedication and hard work yields reward in sport. Applying the same diligence to study, I launched from high school into a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy and began a Sports Physio Career in Sydney four years later.
An increasing mismatch was becoming apparent between work ethic and results in my beloved pursuit of running around an athletic track.
With the urge to satisfy these unshakable desires, I began the hunt to find my true physiological match, a sport better suited to my body's capabilities. I exhausted my professional networks in sports science to underpin my search. I tried my hand at rowing for 14 months, dabbled in triathlon and attempted a middle distance running comeback.
In August 2007, as a 25 year old Australian Rowing Team physio I resonated with increasing intensity towards the athletes I worked with. A commitment to ‘Know thyself’ further drove my quest, the urge was indomitable. Touring Europe and winning medals in a Green and Gold tracksuit was an incredible experience, however I knew I was simply on the wrong side of the fence.
I had the fire, this was the ignition.
On returning to Australia I began researching opportunities, looking for open doors. A google search lit up my ambitious eyes ‘Women’s Cycling Talent ID program at the South Australian Sports Institute’. Six weeks later in a bold leap of faith, I relocated to Adelaide, found a part time Physio job and began training as a cyclist, effective immediately.
I had zero cycling experience or knowledge, only a suitcase of self belief, passion and knowledge around high performance athleticism. I jumped in the deep end, having never raced a bicycle.
I had zero cycling experience or knowledge, only a suitcase of self belief, passion and knowledge around high performance athleticism. I jumped in the deep end, having never raced a bicycle.
My rookie bike racing years were self-driven and adversity stacked, building an immovable foundation of resilience. The proverb ‘Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi, sed saepe cadendo’ echoed through every challenge. ‘A drop carves the stone, not by force but by falling often’ became my core philosophy and persistence began to supercharge my trajectory, which was everything except linear.
In September 2012, just five years after throwing myself into the world of elite cycling I stood on the World Championships Podium with a Silver medal for Australia.
Having missed out on the London Olympics I was fixed and focused on the road to Rio. I gathered everything I had to create the optimal performance network, including relocation to NSWIS working with Bradley McGee. A pivotal step in my career, my first big race win followed, taking out the 2015 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Race.
In August 2016 I represented Australia at the Rio Olympic Games. A truly indescribable feeling of elation and pride, a childhood dream became reality.
Shaping my drive and resilience into athletic excellence is both a joy and a privilege. I stand extremely humbled and proud having carved out a career as a Professional Road Cyclist spanning over ten years with victories and podium places in European UCI races, National Championship podiums and representing Australia at six World Championships.
Today I continue with the same curious and energetic mindset, challenged with the process to uncover my optional athletic potential. As I delve into the twilight stage of my career I’m lead by a strong purpose, passion and enthusiasm in all I do. I am truly relishing each minute of representing Australia on the world stage and absolutely love sharing the journey.
If my story can enrich, inspire or ignite the human potential of another, my higher purpose is wonderfully fulfilled, and worth more than any podium I’ve had the privilege of standing on…
